Everyone separated when we got back, but the excitement was still in the air. I still felt myself buzzing from the ziplining and jumping in the pond. It was the most fun I've had in a long time. When we got back, Jason made me eat something small so I wouldn't pass out.

"You already fell over once today. I don't want anything else happening." He had said.

I sat in my room writing in my notebook on my bed. I've had my notebooks for as long as I could remember. I would write in them and then come back to them from time to time. They are kinda like a momentos. I wanted to see if what I had felt before had changed. My notebooks were the only way I liked to express myself. It was private, it made me feel secure, and I wasn't exactly holding everything in. It was a healthy way for me to let go, a way I was willing to do. The only two people who would be listening would be me and the books. That was all I needed.

It's becoming harder for me to be able to express myself. I thought I was getting better, but they put me in another home and now I have to start all over again. It's been hard. I had a good day though. Cameron was nice and I did everything that I loved to do. I went ziplining and I went swimming. I know I have to learn to get along with everyone here. I will...It will just take some time. I will try. For Mom and Dad. I know they would want me to have a family and that is what I will do. I don't want to move anymore. I want this to be where I stay. This will be the time for me to change my future...for better...or for worse. I miss you guys. I hope we will see each other again soon...it's been hard to not have you guys in my life...I need you here with me.

I stopped writing before I could get emotional. I closed my book and put it beside me. Every moment I spent by myself was a moment that I was filled with sadness and grief. I missed my parents so much that it was like a hole was punched into my chest. It hasn't healed in a long time and I have been looking for ways to help. Writing things down seemed to do little good.

"Kassey."

I jumped when I heard Cameron's voice. I didn't hear him come in and I didn't know how long he had been standing there. When I looked up, he was standing by the door with his hands in his pockets. He wasn't looking at me with a mean expression. His face didn't really show anything, at least nothing I could read. Cameron was as hard to read as I was.

"Can we talk?" He asked slowly.

"Yeah. You can sit down...if you want." I offered.

Cameron hesitated for a moment before sitting in the seat he took before. We stared at each other in silence for a moment. Neither of us knew what to do or say. I wanted to know why he suddenly wanted to talk and why he felt so uncomfortable. I would've started the conversation, but I didn't want to break whatever caused him to come in here.

"I know I've been a dick lately...I just didn't want another person coming here and changing things up again." Cameron started.

"Again?"

"When Aliyah came, she totally changed the routine around here. She was younger when she was here so she needed more attention and that meant for more girls to be here than before...Hayley acts totally different around the girls. It--I just missed the days it was just me and Jason." Cameron explained.

I stared at him for a moment before I believed I understood. "You and Jason are close, huh?"

He took a moment to respond. "Yeah, we were. Now, he plays babysitter." He said bitterly.

"Cameron, I'm not trying to take Jason away from you. I barely wanted to be around a bunch of kids to begin with. I don't wish to change things between you two. I just want to stay somewhere I'm welcome." I said truthfully.

Cameron didn't answer, nor did he look at me. "If you want me to leave...then I'll tell Hayley that this isn't going to work ou--"

Cameron's eyes flashed at me. "No! Look, I never meant to make an enemy out of you, ok? I just wanted to let you know that I don't want anything to change. Jason seems to like you and so do the others, so I guess I can learn to get along with you, too." Cameron gave me a half smile.

I smiled back. It felt good to be on his good side. We talked for a little while. He told me a little about everyone here and I told him what little I could about myself. We laughed and cried a little from laughing too hard. It was like we were actual siblings. Like we had known each other forever. I didn't want this moment to end.

After Cameron left, I got myself ready for bed. I changed to my pajama clothes: A pair of black shorts and a white tank top. I got up and went to the mirror and put my hair in a ponytail. I've always had a small figure as long as I could remember. I liked it that way though. It wasn't unhealthy in a way that other girls often thought. I was in the middle of a struggle with my ponytail when I heard a knock on my door. I waved Jason in as I tried to finish what I was doing. He waited till I was done before he spoke.

"I heard you and Cam had a heart to heart."

"Yeah, we did. He came in here and basically told me that he didn't hate me. He just wanted to let me know where he stood and what he wanted and if I could accept that. I never wanted to fight with him."

"Cameron is a tough person to understand. But, you kinda are, too, Kassey. You were going to clash, but when Cameron loves you, he does forever. He opens up to you completely. It's a thing with him. I'm just glad your beginning to see that." Jason said happily.

"Well, I am too. I don't need an enemy here." I noticed that his arms were behind his back. "What do you have there?"

"Oh, um, I brought you something." Jason walked up and showed me two little boxes. "Me, Hayley, Cameron, and the girls made and gave you things. A little welcome. Plus, Hayley was given this by someone named Alice." Jason explained as he gave me the boxes.

My heart skipped when I heard that name. Alice? The second box he gave me was the same box Alice gave me and said it came from my parents. It had everything they wanted me to have. There was a note on the front that said, "I saw this on your bed. It's not like you to forget important things. I knew you would want this and I added a few things inside. I miss you, my love. Alice."

I thanked Jason and sat down with my new things. I opened the box of gifts first. I wanted to save the one from Alice and my parents. I wanted to be able to enjoy it. The first box had food, cards, and little trinkets. Aliyah made me a few cards and pictures with me and her holding hands. Her cards were very colorful and very cute. I had to remember to thank her the next chance I got. Jade gave me pictures of her and Aliyah together. She also gave me a locket with a note attached that said, "I hope you like this. It used to be mine, but I thought you would like it. I can't wait for us to be sisters. I hope you like me. I don't know your name, but I think we will be good friends." I smiled. I already liked Jade. The locket was beautiful. I felt bad for taking something so pretty and personal. I put the necklace on my dresser and made a mental note to give it back. I didn't want to take anything that she might have an emotional connection to. The foods were things like crackers, bars, and cookies. Majority of them were sweet. It was a long time since I had something sweet. I stared at the food for a long moment before deciding that I would eat them later. I didn't want to give myself a cramp.

There was something in there that caught my attention. I reached the bottom of the box and pulled out several photos. There were pictures of Jason and Cameron. They looked like brothers. They were both smiling and they stood very close to each other as they looked at the camera. The background was unfamiliar, so I guessed this was taken before they had gotten here. Cameron and Jason knew each other before they got here? Were they actual brothers? They didn't look alike. Maybe they were half siblings. They seemed to always be in sync with each other and Cameron did care a lot about Jason, and vice versa. I never thought about this until now and I didn't know how to feel about it. Jason and Cameron were definitely close...I just didn't know how close.

My mind was spinning. I looked towards the other box and had an enticing feeling to open it. I forced myself to put it under my bed. It was late and I needed to sleep. I'd have to look at it tomorrow. I crawled into the bed and closed my eyes. I thought about all of the things that happened today and saw that things were getting better for me. I was developing better relationships with everyone here and I was slowly learning more about everyone as they were of me. I was slowly opening up which was what I was trying to do. I smiled to myself. I felt my body become heavier and I gracefully let sleep take me.